Indonesia and Islamic Nations Condemn Israeli Settlers' Violations at Al-Aqsa
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia, together with several Arab and Islamic countries, has condemned the repeated desecration of the holy site for Muslims and Christians in Jerusalem, particularly by settlers and extremist ministers who continue to unlawfully enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The condemnation was expressed in a joint statement by the foreign ministers of the Republic of Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency on Friday.
“These provocative actions at the Al-Aqsa Mosque constitute a grave violation of international law and international humanitarian law, as well as a provocation to Muslims worldwide and a desecration of the sanctity of the holy city,” the joint statement said.
The foreign ministers reaffirmed their rejection of any attempts to undermine the status quo of the holy sites for Muslims and Christians in Jerusalem, while recognising the role of the Jordanian monarchy as custodian of these sites.
The entire Al-Aqsa Mosque compound is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims, and the Islamic Waqf institution under Jordanian responsibility has exclusive rights to manage the site, including regulating who may and may not enter.
The foreign ministers condemned Israel’s efforts to erode Palestinian territory by allowing new illegal settlements and denounced the ongoing violence by illegal Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank.
They described Israel’s actions as a clear violation of the right of the Palestinian state to exist and an obstacle to achieving a two-state solution.
“The ministers call upon the international community to fulfil its responsibilities and take clear and firm steps to stop these violations,” according to the joint statement.
The foreign ministers urged the international community to intensify joint efforts to achieve comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution framework.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and to establishing an independent State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Previously, on Tuesday (21/4), dozens of Israeli settlers again stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound under heavy escort by Zionist occupation forces, according to reports from the Palestinian news agency WAFA.
Once inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque, they reportedly raised Israeli flags and performed Talmudic prayer rituals within it. This activity is considered provocative as it takes place in a Muslim-designated area.